What PTE score do you need?
PTE scores are reported per skill (Speaking, Writing, Reading, Listening) and as an overall score. Most visa and immigration requirements specify a minimum score in each individual skill — not just the overall.
PTE Academic — all 20 question types explained
PTE Academic integrates all 4 skills across 3 test sections. Many question types score multiple skills simultaneously — understanding which ones is key to efficient preparation.
Read a text of up to 60 words aloud. You have 30–40 seconds to read and 30–40 seconds to speak. AI scores Content (did you say every word?), Oral Fluency (natural rhythm?) and Pronunciation (correct phonemes?).
Listen to a sentence (3–9 seconds) then repeat it verbatim. Up to 12 questions. The sentence is spoken only once — do not write anything down. Any missed or substituted words directly reduce your score.
You have 25 seconds to prepare and 40 seconds to speak about a graph, chart, map, table, process or photograph. MockMaster's universal template works for all 6 image types and consistently scores 65+.
Listen to an academic lecture (60–90 sec) while an image is displayed. After the lecture ends, you have 10 seconds to prepare then 40 seconds to re-tell the key points. Note-taking is allowed and essential.
A short question is spoken (and may also be shown). Give a one- or two-word factual answer. Tests general knowledge and vocabulary breadth. Examples: "What do you call a person who designs buildings?" → Architect.
Read an academic passage and write a one-sentence summary of 5–75 words in 10 minutes. Must be grammatically complete, include the main idea and key supporting details. Scored on Content, Form, Grammar and Vocabulary.
Write a 200–300 word argumentative essay on an academic topic in 20 minutes. Marked on Content (argument quality), Development & Structure, Language Use, and Vocabulary. Under 120 words = zero score.
A passage with missing words. Choose from a dropdown of 4–6 options for each blank. Tests contextual understanding, collocations and vocabulary. One of the most challenging reading tasks — wrong answers score zero.
A passage with blanks where you must type the correct word. Unlike the Reading-only version, this task also contributes to Writing. Partial credit awarded — getting most correct still earns partial marks.
Shuffle jumbled text boxes into the correct logical order by dragging them. Requires understanding of discourse markers, cohesion devices and logical text structure. No partial credit — all or nothing.
Single answer: choose one correct option from 5. Multiple answer: choose ALL correct options — wrong choices subtract marks. Read questions carefully to understand whether one or multiple answers are expected.
Listen to an academic lecture (60–90 sec), take notes, then write a 50–70 word summary in 10 minutes. Scored on Content, Vocabulary, Spelling and Grammar. Miss key points = major content score loss.
Listen to a recording while reading a transcript with missing words. Type exactly what you hear — including correct spelling. Partial marks awarded. A single misspelt word costs the point for that blank.
Listen to a recording then choose which of several written summaries best matches what you heard. The correct summary must be accurate and complete — not just partially correct. Read all options before choosing.
The last word/phrase of a recording is replaced by a beep. Choose from 4–5 options what completes the recording logically. Tests understanding of full meaning and context rather than individual words.
Top PTE strategies from our expert instructors
Based on data from 30,000+ PTE candidates who practised on MockMaster — these are the changes that produced the biggest score improvements.
Recommended 4-week PTE preparation timeline
This week-by-week plan is based on what our highest-scoring students did. Adjust intensity based on your current baseline score — if you are already at 60+, skip to Week 3.